At Critical Time In Nation's History Comes New Consecration And Alleged Message

This weekend, November 11, at noon EST, the papal nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Pietro Sambi, will be officiating a Mass for the renewal of the country’s consecration to Our Lady as the Immaculate Conception (at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington). We strongly applaud that at the same time as reminding bishops of a request, from an apparition that had the partial approval of a local archbishop, to place a statue dedicated to Our Lady of America in the same basilica -- which has grottos devoted to a number of foreign Madonnas (representing apparition sites in France, the Philippines, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, and most recently, Our Lady of LaVang, in Vietnam) -- but not a single representation of Mary as attached to the U.S.

It is time to consider that surprising fact, whichever way they want to represent her: there are a number of alleged apparitions since Indian times. But first on that matter of re-consecration:

As we previously reported, bishops across the U.S. have been invited to join in the Saturday event, and we hope they all do. It is more important, for sure, than the annual bishops' conference and comes as one of our last best hopes. The country is in desperate need of spiritual renewal -- slammed as it is on all fronts by everything from abortion, materialism, premarital sex, embryonic stem cells, pornography, and homosexual marriage to crime, sexual abuse, violence, and war.

High noon indeed: From politics to the Church, from the culture to practices of business, the nation is in need of a gigantic spiritual overhaul -- or perhaps one should say a spiritual rescue mission -- and one help is a consecration.

We should say "re-consecration," since this great nation has been consecrated since its very start.

Although few know it, Columbus and his crew sang the Salve Regina on the way over from Europe and there was a Mass here -- in fact, a thanksgiving Mass -- long before Plymouth Rock (in St. Augustine).

It is time for us to realize this and at this late hour extend it urgently.

Most Reverend John Carroll, of Baltimore, America's first Roman Catholic bishop, consecrated the newly-created nation under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the title of the Immaculate Conception in 1792 and decades later Pope Pius IX formalized Carroll's acclamation -- proclaiming the Immaculate Conception as the patroness of the United States in 1847.

On May 13, 1846, the bishops unanimously chose Mary, under the title of Immaculate Conception, as the patroness of the U.S.

Such was reaffirmed in 1959 when the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was dedicated in Washington -- where so much prayer is now necessary.

These consecrations are not just symbols, and the timing is no coincidence.

It was following the consecration of the world to Mary by the great John Paul II that Communism fell so suddenly in Europe, and as the World Apostolate of Fatima (which is largely coordinating the re-consecration) points out, when the bubonic plague was rampant in Marseille, France, during the 1720s, the Archbishop consecrated that city to the Sacred Heart to end the plague and it did without any apparent medical remedy.

These are not rituals. They are actions. Heaven awaits them.

The Armistice ending World War I was signed after a consecration by the Primate of England on November 11, 1918 -- the same day which the papal nuncio has now chosen to officiate the Mass for the U.S.

Meanwhile Portugal was Consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary before World War II and was protected from that conflict.

Now, in our time, is the threat of war and terrorism -- as well as natural events. Let us all join in on this consecration.

As for Our Lady of America?

We are not the judge and jury on the authenticity of an apparition, but we urge that such be discerned in a serious fashion by U.S. bishops, who up to now have not addressed it (see archives).

It was allegedly the request of Mary, calling herself "Our Lady of America"  and appearing to an Ohio nun named Sister Mary Neuzil, starting in 1956, that, in the words of Sister Neuzil, "a statue made to this likeness and placed, after being solemnly carried in procession, in the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. She wishes to be honored there in a special way as Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin."

While attention has been paid to this request by a handful of bishops and well-known priests, including some attached to Catholic television, there is still no niche in Washington -- no representative of Mary in a way that links her to America -- even though the national shrine has grottos to an apparition even in India!

A letter making the request -- that American bishops read the messages, construct a statue of Our Lady of America or whatever likeness they discern, and place it at the shrine in a "solemn procession" (after which it said the shrine, as prophesied by Sister Neuzil, would become a place of major pilgrimage) was sent to bishops more than five years ago -- with few results.

It was a request not only for construction of the statue but a solemn consecration of the U.S. in order to avoid "catastrophe."

At least a consecration is now taking place!

"The hour grows later," Sister Neuzil, who died in 2000, quoted Mary as saying. "But if men come to me, my Immaculate Heart will make it bright again with the mercy which my Son will rain down through my hands."

If not, she said, there would be "the fires of untold punishment."

The language was at times strikingly similar to that of Fatima and Medjugorje -- including use of the terms "darkest hour" and "a time of grace."

"Will you do as I wish at last, my children?" she asked -- as we need to recall this weekend not only during the re-consecration but as bishops gather in nearby Baltimore -- at another cathedral dedicated to the Blessed Mother -- for their conference.

Can these requests be placed in each of their hands?

While miraculous statues are recognized in the U.S. -- most notably Our Lady of Prompt Succor in New Orleans and La Conquistadora in Santa Fe -- never has an American apparition gained full approval -- which involves a declaration and in many cases the commissioning of art depicting the apparition, a statue, a medal, and often erection of a chapel, basilica, or church dedicated to her under the title.

The late archbishop, Paul F. Leibold of Cincinnati, took the extraordinary step of ordering a medal fashioned after the apparition -- in itself a form of sanction that hearkens to the famous "miraculous medal" apparitions in Paris.

In addition, before he died Archbishop Leibold had two large plaques depicting Our Lady of America made, hanging one in the chancery.

The archbishop also approved release of Sister Mildred's messages, granting them an official imprimatur, and in an extraordinary show of closeness to the situation served as the seer's spiritual director from 1940 to 1972.

According to Sister Mildred, "America, the United States in particular, was given the tremendous, yet privileged, opportunity to lead all nations in a spiritual renewal.

If it didn't -- said Sister Neuzil (whose revelations we first posted, to wide circulation, just before 9/11) -- there would be huge problems -- what the Virgin allegedly called a "terrible purification."

It was through this devotion -- and placement of the statue in Washington -- that Sister Mildred said she was told the U.S. would assume a place of special spiritual as opposed to just political leadership and avoid what Sister Mildred repeatedly warned were coming chastisements.

What the Virgin desired was the moral leadership of a nation that had been consecrated to her and was now straying. That was in the 1950s!

"I wish it to be the country dedicated to my purity," said Mary. "I desire, through my children of America, to further the cause of faith and purity among peoples and nations. I come to you, O children of America, as a last resort. I plead with you to listen to my voice. Cleanse your souls in the precious Blood of my Son. Live in His Heart, and take me in that I may teach you to live in great purity of heart which is so pleasing to God. Be my army of chaste soldiers, ready to fight to the death to preserve the purity of your souls. I am the Immaculate one, patroness of your land. Be my faithful children as I have been your faithful mother."

Miracles "greater than those granted at Lourdes and Fatima" would be granted here in America, the United States in particular, if we do as she desires, she once said.

If not, there would be problems. Asking that a prayer to the Immaculate Conception be recited once a day, Sister Mildred said it "is evident that the forces of evil are enveloping the world. Their hatred, however, is now particularly focused on the United States because of the Divine Mandate given to it to lead the world to peace."

Has America led the world in purity -- or purveyed the opposite?

"Weep, then, dear children, weep with your mother over the sins of men," said Mary. "Intercede with me before the throne of mercy, for sin is overwhelming the world and punishment is not far away. "

"Tell the bishops of the United States, my loyal sons, of my desires and how I wish them to be carried out," said Our Lady in those messages granted an imprimatur. "Through he who is head over you, make known the longings of my Immaculate Heart to establish the reign of my Divine Son in the hearts of men and thus save them from the scourge of Heaven, both now and hereafter."

[Let us therefore pray this week and Saturday:

"Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of Your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as Your Spouse; God the Son who chose Mary as Your Mother, in union with Mary we adore Your Majesty and acknowledge Your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

"Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to You. Through her we wish to thank You for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our President and on all the officers of our government."]

11/7/06

[see also: the first article on Our Lady of America  and other articles on the apparitions]

[the book of messages]

[Blue Army]

[prayers for America]

[Procession honoring Our Lady of America]

[official website]